Excavator with side mounted silt fence installer

ABSTRACT

An excavator machine with a side mounted silt fence installing tool mounted below the swivel. The excavator has a swiveling and articulating tool and an operator&#39;s seat above the swivel. An articulating arm is attached above the swivel so the operator may operate swiveling and articulating tool in a coordinated way with the silt fence installer to accomplish a job more efficiently than it could be accomplished using tools separately mounted one at a time.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/895,280 filed Sep. 30, 2010 which was a continuation-in-part ofPCT/US 2009/038711 filed Mar. 29, 2009.

INTRODUCTION

Machines originally designed as front end loaders with tracks or wheels,whether having skid-steering wheels or turnable wheels, such as Bobcatbrand machines, have been adapted to become general purpose toolcarriers that can receive a variety of controllable tool attachments tobe attached to the front or back of the machine and controlled by anoperator sitting in the operator's seat. This tool attachment carryingsystem can be improved upon by (1) allowing linear acting tools to beattached on the side, (2) placing the operator's seat and controls on acontrollable swivel 10 so that the operator can swivel to an optimumlocation for viewing the work, and (3) providing the operator with acontrollable articulating arm 11 with a bucket, claw, rake or compactoror similar implement which the operator can operate to accomplish a taskin a coordinated fashion with the linear acting tool which is attachedbelow the swivel. The engine may also be above the swivel, in which caseit drives a hydraulic pump that pumps fluid through the swivel to drivethe linear acting tool attached below the swivel. So that the swivel canrotate without limitation, electrical control signals may pass throughconductor rings in the swivel or via wireless radio signal to the linearacting tool, or additional hydraulic circuits may be added passingthrough the swivel. The linear acting tool may be hydraulically adjustedin response to operator controls or location of a string datum line or acurb or gutter or GPS coordinates. The adjustment may move the toolvertically without pivoting to stay plumb or it may pivot the tool abouta pivot point.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the invention is a tool carrying and controlling systemwherein an operator can control a swiveling tool and either a firstlinear acting controllable tool or a second linear acting controllabletool to operate in coordination with the first tool. The systemcomprises (a) a set of wheels or tracks on which the machine ridessupporting a support structure; (b) coupled to and supported by thesupport structure, an operator's seat and operator's controls; (c)coupled to and supported by the support structure, a vertical swivel 10such that components coupled to an upper side of the swivel can swivelabout a vertical axis relative to the support structure; (d) anarticulating arm 11 coupled to the upper side of the vertical swivel,controllable by the controls, with a first tool mounted on a distant endof the arm; (e) coupled to and supported by the support structure andfixed to a lower side of the swivel, a mounting support 66 for mountingto one side of the path of the tracks or wheels a linear acting tool;(f) a first linear acting tool mountable on the mounting base 66, thefirst tool or mounting base including moving parts such that an operatorcan, using controls at the operator's seat, control the swiveling tooland, also using controls at the operator's seat, control the movingparts of the first tool or mounting base, which does not swivel with theswiveling tool, so that the two tools perform an operation incoordination with each other; and (g) a second linear acting toolmountable on the mounting base 66, the second tool or mounting baseincluding moving parts controllable by the controls such that anoperator can remove the first tool and replace it with the second tooland then, using controls at the operator's seat, control the swivelingtool and, also using controls at the operator's seat, control the movingparts of the second tool or mounting base, which does not swivel withthe first tool, so that the two tools perform an operation incoordination with each other.

The above elements (a) through (d) may be provided by an excavator,particularly a mini-excavator. So that the swivel 10 can fully swivelany number of rotations without limitation, the system may include anelectrical circuit coupling the controls with the moving parts of themounting support or first or second tool, the electrical circuit passingthrough the swivel via electrical conductor rings and brushes.Alternatively, the control signals may be communicated with a wirelesslink that carries radio communications from the controls to the mountingsupport or first of second tool. In this case, electrical power tooperate a wireless communication component coupled to the mountingsupport or first of second tool may be provided by a hydraulic generatorwhich receives power from flow of hydraulic fluid passing through theswivel from a hydraulic pump on the engine mounted above the swivel.

The swiveling tool may be an earth moving bucket 43 or a claw or a rakeor vibratory compactor or any similar implement. The first and secondlinear acting tools may be any of: a curb and gutter grading blade; acurb and gutter extruder; a sidewalk and shoulder grading blade; anasphalt paver; a concrete paver; a fence installer; a trencher; aconcrete/asphalt saw; a side roller/compactor; a vibratory roller; asnow plow; and other similar tools.

In another aspect, the invention is a side tool carrying and controllingmachine in the form of a modified excavator, comprising a commonexcavator, which is: (a) a set of wheels or tracks on which the machinerides supporting a support structure; (b) coupled to and supported bythe support structure, a vertical swivel 10 such that components coupledto an upper side of the swivel can swivel about a vertical axis relativeto the support structure; (c) coupled to and supported by the upper sideof the swivel, an operator's seat, operator's controls, and anarticulating arm having a tool on a distant end. The modificationconsists of: (d) coupled to and supported by the support structure andfixed to a lower side of the swivel, a side tool mounting support 66adapted for mounting a linear acting tool to one side of a path of thewheels or tracks; (e) a set of source side hydraulic couplers disposedproximate to the mounting support and available for use with matinghydraulic couplers of a hydraulically controlled side tool, each sourceside coupler coupled to a hydraulic pump disposed above the swivel viahydraulic lines having control valves that control flow through thelines in response to actuation at the operator's controls.

The side tool carrying and controlling machine may be designed to fullyswivel any number of rotations without limitation by ensuring that anyhydraulic or communication circuits pass through the swivel with slipfittings or use wireless radio.

The side tool carrying and controlling machine may further include ahydraulic actuator coupled to the mounting support and configured foradjusting the support or an attached linear acting tool in response to acontrol, which may be an operator control or an automated control thatresponds to location relative to a string datum line or that responds toa slope sensor or that responds to position with respect to globalpositioning system satellites.

In yet another aspect, the invention is a curb and gutter extrudingmachine made by modifying a common excavator, which is a set of wheelsor tracks on which the excavator rides supporting a support structure;coupled to and supported by the support structure, a vertical swivel 10such that components coupled to an upper side of the swivel can swivelabout a vertical axis relative to the support structure; coupled to andsupported by the upper side of the swivel, an operator's seat,operator's controls, and an articulating arm 11 having a tool on adistant end. The modification consists of: coupled to and supported bythe support structure and fixed to a lower side of the swivel 10, a curband gutter extruder attachment comprising a hopper and a slip formmounted to extrude a curb or gutter to one side of a path of the wheelsor tracks.

The curb and gutter extruder may further comprise a hydraulic actuatorcoupled to a hydraulic valve that is automatically controlled by acontroller that adjusts height of the extruder relative to one of:location with respect to a datum line string, tilt with respect togravity, or location with respect to global positioning systemsatellites.

The curb and gutter extruder may be mounted to an attachment base 66 onthe excavator which may be a typical front blade of the excavator. Itmay be braced by a diagonal brace to a track roller chassis of theexcavator.

In yet another aspect, the invention is a sidewalk paving machine madeby modifying a common excavator, the modification comprising: coupled toand supported by the support structure and fixed to a lower side of theswivel, a sidewalk paving attachment comprising lateral materialretaining fins, a spreading auger and a smoothing plate with a vibratormounted to spread and smooth formable paving material to one side of apath of the wheels or tracks.

The sidewalk paving machine may include one or more heating elements onthe smoothing plate to heat asphalt paving material. It may furtherinclude at least one curb follower attached to a side of a materialretaining fin to maintain proper height relative to a curb. The pavingattachment may be mounted to a blade of the excavator. It may include adiagonal brace to a track roller chassis of the excavator.

In yet another aspect, the invention is a sidewalk grading machine withvertical blade adjustment made by modifying a common excavator, themodification comprising: coupled to and supported by the supportstructure and fixed to a lower side of the swivel, a sidewalk gradingblade attachment with a straight vertical adjusting component, thevertical adjusting component comprising: (1) an excavator sideattachment fitting, coupled to (2) a set of vertical tracks, which areengaged by (3) a set of vertical sliders, which are attached to thegrading blade, and (4) a hydraulic actuator that adjusts verticalsliding of the sliders on the tracks, thereby vertically adjusting theheight of the grading blade.

The sidewalk grading machine may further comprise a sonar positiondetector that detects position of a datum line relative to the detectorwhich detected information is used to adjust the vertical adjustingcomponent. The datum line may be a string or a concrete curb or gutteror a laser line or plane, a road surface, or an established grade.

In yet another aspect, the invention is a sidewalk or shoulder rollingmachine, comprising (a) a common excavator comprising a set of wheels ortracks on which the excavator rides supporting a support structure;coupled to and supported by the support structure, a vertical swivelsuch that components coupled to an upper side of the swivel can swivelabout a vertical axis relative to the support structure; coupled to andsupported by the upper side of the swivel, an operator's seat,operator's controls, and an articulating arm having a tool on a distantend; and (b) coupled to and supported by the support structure and fixedto a lower side of the swivel, a side roller attachment comprising aframe, which supports at least one axis which holds at least oneweighted cylindrical roller located to roll an approximately horizontalsurface to one side of a path of the wheels or tracks. The rollingmachine may include a vibrator on the frame located to vibrate the atleast one roller.

In yet another aspect, the invention is a silt fence installing machine,comprising: (a) a common excavator comprising a set of wheels or trackson which the excavator rides supporting a support structure; coupled toand supported by the support structure, a vertical swivel such thatcomponents coupled to an upper side of the swivel can swivel about avertical axis relative to the support structure; coupled to andsupported by the upper side of the swivel, an operator's seat,operator's controls, and an articulating arm having a tool on a distantend; and (b) coupled to and supported by the support structure and fixedto a lower side of the swivel, a silt fence installing attachmentcomprising a frame, which supports a fence roll support bar for holdinga roll of fencing, a plowing edge, and following the plowing edge, adiagonal direction changing edge which redirects the fabric fromvertical movement to horizontal movement. The silt fence installingmachine may include at least one height adjustable wheel or skid thatcontacts an earth surface and limits a depth of plowing of the plowingedge.

In yet another aspect, the invention is a machine for installingrolled-up fencing with attached posts, comprising: (a) an attachmentmount adapted to attach to an attachment base on a mobile machine; (b)coupled to the attachment mount, a fence dispenser adapted to holdvertically a roll of fence material with attached fence posts and allowthe fence material with posts to feed off the roll; (c) coupled to theattachment mount, a plowing edge adapted to plow a trench as the mobilemachine moves forward; (d) a fence material guide adapted to guide fencematerial with posts coming off the roll into installation position asthe mobile machine moves forward; and (e) a fence post pusher adapted topush each fence post from installation position into soil as the mobilemachine moves forward. The tool may further comprise soil pushersadapted to push soil against a bottom edge of installed fence as themobile machine moves forward.

In yet another aspect, the invention is a tool for installing rolled-upfencing without attached posts and digging holes for or pounding infence posts, comprising: (a) at least one attachment mount adapted toattach to an attachment base on a mobile machine; (b) coupled to atleast one attachment mount, a vertical sliding guide with a sliderdisposed with no obstruction on a vertical line from the slider to soilwhen the tool is mounted on a mobile machine; and (c) coupled to atleast one attachment mount, a fence dispenser adapted to hold verticallya roll of fence material and allow the fence material to feed off theroll proximate the vertical line. The tool attachment system may furthercomprise a powered auger mountable on the slider adapted to drill a holesuitable for a fence post when sliding down the sliding guide. It mayalso comprise a pounding face mountable on the slider adapted to pound afence post when sliding down the sliding guide and/or a fence stretcher.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a prior art sidewalk grader.

FIG. 2 shows a mounting base 66 and tool's mating attachment surface 74,as well as components of a tool that includes automatic levelingcomponents.

FIG. 3 shows a quick coupling components for coupling hydraulic lines toa detachable tool.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show wireless components for controlling a detachabletool from the cab.

FIG. 5 shows an improvement that allows the detachable tool to remainplumb as relevant elevations change.

FIG. 6 shows a curb and gutter extruder.

FIG. 7 shows an extruder for a second curb.

FIG. 8 shows a laterally extendable edge blade.

FIG. 9 shows a detachable trencher added to the end of the blade.

FIG. 10 shows grading base rock with the sidewalk grading blade.

FIG. 11 shows paving with a paver detachable tool.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show adjustable tools for paving.

FIGS. 14A, 14B, 14C, 15A, 15B, 15C, 16A, 16B and 16C show a hydraulichose reel adapted to carry two hydraulic hoses in the tool mounting baseand a side blade which extends horizontally out of an end of the toolmounting base.

FIGS. 16C and 17A, 17B and 17C show a multi-coupling plate and howretainers of the tool mount may be powered with a hydraulic cylinder.

FIGS. 18A, 18B and 19 show arms connecting the tool attachment base tothe machine that constrain the tool attachment base to move up and downwithout significant rotation out of plumb.

FIGS. 20, 21A, 21B and 22 show a silt fence installer attachments.

FIGS. 23, 24, 25, 26A and 26B show a horizontally extendable low profileside blade attachment.

FIG. 27 shows a laterally extendable blade.

FIGS. 28 and 29 show a trencher attachment.

FIG. 30 shows a materials bin attachment.

FIG. 31 shows a roller attachment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The Prior Art

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings which shows the prior art sidewalkgrading machine, numeral 20 generally designates the sidewalk gradingblade and support structure, called the sidewalk grader 20. The sidewalkgrader 20 is used to grade sidewalk base material 22, which sometimesincludes crushed rock 24, to a predetermined specified grade andelevation to form the base 26 of a designed sidewalk (not illustrated).Typically, the sidewalk grader 20 accommodates grading activity forsidewalks that extend adjacent to and along an existing road structure30 of the type that incorporates a curb 32 as a border.

More specifically, the sidewalk grader 20 comprises a tracking assembly34 adapted for fixable engagement with a vertically movable accessory 36extending from below the swivel in a piece of construction excavationequipment 38. Commonly, a vertically adjustable backfill blade extendingfrom a common compact excavator 42 is effective 36 for this purpose.When a compact excavator 42 is used, the bucket 43 thereof, can be veryuseful to either remove or add additional sidewalk base material 22depending on the condition of the site reserved for the sidewalk. Inaddition, as the sidewalk grader 20 advances along the road structure30, the bucket 43 can be used to break-up native hard-pan type soil, andto remove large rocks and the like.

The construction equipment 38 is generally positioned to move forwardover an existing road structure 30 to advance the sidewalk grader 20 ina direction along the existing road structure 30, substantially parallelthereto. This forward movement is indicated by arrow 46. Importantly,the excavation equipment 38 so provided is disposed and operated over anexisting road structure 30 thereby minimizing the impact it has on thebase 26. Accordingly, the tracking assembly 34 is configured to extendfrom the vertically movable accessory 36 in a transverse direction tothe course of advancement (indicated by an arrow 46), transverselyacross the road structure 30 and the curb 32 thereof.

In addition, the tracking assembly 34 further comprises a verticallyadjustable tracking means 48 disposed for engagement with the topsurface of the curb 32 portion of the road structure 30. With thisconfiguration, the top surface 50 of the curb 32 provides a point ofreference for operation of the sidewalk grader 20.

A grading assembly 54 is mounted and fixed to the tracking assembly 34so that the grading assembly 54 extends outward, beyond the curb 32,positioned over the location of the area reserved for the designedsidewalk and base 26 thereof. More specifically, the grading assembly 54comprises a frame 56, and a grading blade 58 rotatingly mounted to theframe 56 to permit adjustment of slope of the grading blade 58 accordingto the specified sidewalk design grade. In order to lock or fix therotation of the grading blade 58 in relation to the frame 56, accordingto a predetermined grade, a fixing means 60 for fixing the bladerotation is provided.

As noted above, the tracking means 48 is vertically adjustable. Thisfeature is provided to enable the tracking means 48 to engage with thetop surface 50 of a curb 32 to provide a relative reference, or point ofreference, for precise vertical and horizontal adjustment of thesidewalk grader 20, to position the grading assembly 54, and formaintaining the grading assembly in the desired position in relation tothe curb as the sidewalk grader 20 advances along the existing roadstructure 30 as indicated by arrow 46.

Because the top surface 50 of the curb 32 is usually rough concrete, thepreferred tracking means 48 is constructed for rolling engagement alongthe top surface 50 of the curb 32, such as a wheel 94.

In a simplified embodiment of the sidewalk grader 20, the trackingassembly 34 comprises a pivot joint 64, disposed adjacent the backfillblade to enable the sidewalk grader 20 to fold from a first unfoldedposition to a folded position. An additional pivot joint 65 is providedto form an additional folding point to fold the sidewalk grader 20 forstorage and transportation. As will be discussed more fully below, asecond pivot joint 65 can provide an additional pivot axis for up anddown movement of the grading assembly 54 to provide greater flexibilitythereof.

A cylinder support 82 is fabricated from solid steel for strength and iswelded directly to the support tube 76. At the top of the cylindersupport 82 is an upper eye to provide a connection point for the upperportion of a vertical hydraulic cylinder. Similarly, at the opposingend, its ram is connected to a vertically movable wheel carriage havinga wheel 94. With this arrangement, the ram 88 can be operated tovertically adjust the wheel 94 to the proper elevation to rest on thetop surface 50 of curb 32 to track the curb 32 as the sidewalk grader 20advances along the road structure 30. Adjusting the vertical hydrauliccylinder causes pivoting of the blade 58 rather than vertical movementof the blade.

As the sidewalk grader 20 advances along the road structure 30, thewheel 94 should be adjustable between a first lower limit and a secondupper limit, thereby lowering the sidewalk grader 20 to enable thesidewalk grader 20 to follow the curb 32 as it drops to an area reservedfor a driveway (not illustrated), i.e., where the curb transitionsdownward and fades into the driveway. This movement causes pivoting ofthe blade 58 in an arc, such that its distant end moves more than itsnearer end, rather than vertical movement of the blade.

To compensate for the pivoting of the blade, as shown in FIG. 5, a slopecontrol system including a slope sensor 220, a pivot 180, and ahydraulic cylinder 226 (all not shown in FIG. 1) were added to the priorart system. This slope control system compensates for any deviation inslope of the grading blade 58 caused by bumps in the road structure 30,change in slope of the road structure, and excavator load changes andthe like. Accordingly, the slope sensor senses any change in slope andcommunicates the change to a control box which then signals anelectronically controlled valve stack to activate the hydraulic slopecontrol link to compensate for the change. In this way, the gradingblade 58 is automatically controlled to provide a smoothly graded base26 for the sidewalk.

Converting the Excavator to a Multi-Attachment Side Tool Carrier

As described below, as an improvement over the above described priorart, the present invention encompasses a tool carrying and controllingsystem wherein an operator can control a swiveling tool and either afirst attachable linear acting controllable tool or a second attachablelinear acting controllable tool to operate in coordination with thefirst tool. For use in this system, the excavator is modified to includea side tool mounting base or support 66 affixed below the swivel 10 forattaching any linear acting tool via a mating surface 74, and a set ofhydraulic line quick couplers 494 are mounted proximate to the sidemounting base 66 as shown in FIG. 2. The couplers may be ganged as shownin FIG. 3. The quick coupler hydraulic connections may be color-coded tocorrespond to the function control buttons on a Suregrip handle 465 inthe cab with corresponding colors as shown in FIG. 4A. Attachmenthydraulic hoses may also have corresponding colors.

On the excavator, the two hydraulic hoses that operate the stockbackfill blade are rerouted to an electronically controlled valve stackwith proportional and/or on/off sections for supplying hydraulicpressure to any number of attachment hydraulic circuits. Accordingly,the tool support mount 66 on one end of the backfill blade is nowconnected to, and controlled by the valve stack. In this way, theoperator can electronically control the valve stack from within the cabof the excavator, above the swivel 10, to control all hydraulic circuitsbelow the swivel that effect any attachment function. The valve stack islocated between the lower side of the swivel and the quick couplers, andany number of hoses are routed from the valve stack to the set ofhydraulic couplers for the side attachment.

Electric control wires from the cab to the valve stack may couple thetwo together as in the prior art. However, this limits rotation of theswivel 10 and risks damaging the wires. An improvement is to pass thecontrol wires through the swivel with slip rings, an electromechanicaldevice that allows the transmission of power and electrical signals froma stationary to a rotating structure, also called a rotary electricaljoint, collector or electric swivel.

Alternatively, A transmitter/receiver mounted in the cab can transmitall commands from an installed control handle mounted on the right orleft joystick as well as any other switches or any controls in themachine's cab. A receiver/transmitter capable of driving the hydraulicvalve stack decodes the signal and controls the valve stack. A hydraulicgenerator that is installed in the return hydraulic line generates powerto keep a large capacitor charged. This capacitor supplies power tooperate the electric control valves and supplies power to the wirelessreceiver/transmitter module. A battery may be used instead of acapacitor. The battery can be charged as mentioned above or removed eachnight and charged the conventional way.

As another alternative, instead of manifolding one hydraulic circuitinto many with a control valve stack placed below the swivel 10 and thenrouting electric or wireless controls through or around the swivel, theexcavator swivel can be modified to add more hydraulic circuits throughthe swivel, allowing the valve stack to be placed above the swivel.

As a further improvement to the prior art side tool system, a verticalslider, shown in FIG. 5, may be inserted into the beam structure betweenthe excavator and the tool. This prevents relative vertical movementfrom inducing a pivoting movement. This slider may be inserted at joint64 in FIG. 1. It retains the hinge feature of prior joint 64 to allowfolding of the beam. The slider may be hydraulically actuated, as shownin FIG. 5, or it may slide by itself vertically, perhaps using thewheels on the curb or other datum line to force vertical movement. Thevertical slider constrains the tool to move straight up and down and notswing in an arc, as in the prior art.

For use with this multi-tool carrier, several linear acting attachableside tools are described below.

Curb or Curb and Gutter Extruder

On a road and sidewalk construction job, the first linear acting toolthat is useful when mounted on the side tool carrier described above isa curb and gutter extruder as shown in FIG. 6.

After a first curb is extruded and hardened, the extruder head may bechanged to extrude a second curb on the far side of the sidewalk gradeas shown in FIG. 7. A trimmerhead 430 and auger 435 can be used inconjunction with or ahead of the curb and gutter extruder.

As shown in FIG. 6, a sonar sensor 525 may be set up on an arm 520 toactuate controllers that adjust height and lateral location relative toa string 522 set up as a datum line.

Sidewalk Grader Improvements

The next tool to be used on the job is a sidewalk grader. As animprovement to the prior art grader, the blade width may be madeadjustable with a sliding blade extension 304 guided by guide bars 315and 316 and actuated by a hydraulic cylinder 318 as shown in FIG. 8.

As another improvement, a detachable fin 302 shown in FIG. 8 may beadded to the distant end of the blade.

As another improvement, a detachable trencher 382 shown in FIG. 9 may beadded to the distant end of the blade to create a trench for placingsidewalk edging stones. For use in the same pass, a windrow formingattachment 380 may be added to pile displaced material in a windrow 384.

Then a second curb may be extruded as shown in FIG. 7 or sidewalk edgingstones 385 may be placed in the trench as shown as shown in FIG. 10.Base rock 387 is then placed in the sidewalk grade, and the base rock isgraded with the sidewalk grading blade, as shown in FIG. 10. An edgingbackfill attachment 386 may be added to the end of the blade to pull thewindrow 384 against the edging stones 385 or extruded curb.

Also, a sonar sensing and guiding system may be added to sense the curbtop or the gutter or a guide string. A laser sensor may be added tosense a laser beam for guidance.

Paver

Now the grade is ready for paving with a paver as shown in FIGS. 11, 12,and 13 (cross section). The paver components are attached to the gradingblade to add an auger 342 and a smoothing plate 351 plus smoothing plateextension 352. A vibrator 308 helps smooth the material, whether cementor asphalt, and, when used for asphalt, heaters 335, 336, and 337 keepthe smoothing plate warm. If electric heaters are used, they may bedriven by a generator 301 which may be mounted on the excavator blade40.

Reel for Auxiliary Hydraulic Hoses

FIGS. 14A, 14C, 15A, 15B and 16A show a hydraulic hose reel 651 adaptedto carry two hydraulic hoses in the tool mounting base (which ispreferably also an earth moving blade) for connecting any tool thatneeds hydraulic power.

Horizontally Extendable Side Blade

FIGS. 14B, 14C, 15B, 15C, 15D, 16A, and 16B show a side blade whichextends horizontally out of an end of the tool mounting base (which ispreferably also an earth moving blade). The side blade 861 is also shownin FIGS. 23, 24, 25 26A, 26B, and 27.

Multi-Coupling Plate

FIG. 3 shows a fixed hydraulic multi-coupling plate 871 and a matingmobile hydraulic multi-coupling plate 870.

FIGS. 16C, 17B, and 17C show a multi-coupling plate 871 mounted on thetool mounting base (which is preferably also an earth moving blade).This prevents hydraulic hoses from being incorrectly coupled. As shownin these figures, it also is engaged by the action of engaging a toolmount 872 with a tool multi-coupling plate 870 onto the mounting base.Thus, one action both attaches the tool and couples hydraulic lines foractuating the tool.

FIGS. 16C and 17C show how retainers 873 of the tool mount 66 may bepowered with a hydraulic cylinder 874. The retainers 873 engage andretain steel pins 875 with are part of the tool mount 872. A third pin876 may be added beside the multi-coupler to ensure alignment:

Tool Attachment Base that Stays Plumb

The tool attachment base 66 is preferably a central earth-moving bladeon an excavator. However, as shown in FIG. 18A, the standard bladerotates out of plumb as the blade is raised and lowered. For use of theblade as a tool attachment base, it is preferable to replace the bladewith a blade designed to stay plumb as the blade is raised and lowered.

There are two ways to achieve this objective. First, the blade may bedesigned with upper and lower pivot points connected by arms to upperand lower pivot points on the machine, with the blade pivot pointslocated such that the four pivot points always form a parallelogram. Ahydraulic cylinder is then coupled to apply forces to opposite cornersof the parallelogram to raise and lower the blade.

Alternatively, the blade may be designed as shown in FIGS. 18B and 19.As shown, a first arm connecting the blade to the machine via couplings918 and 919 includes an intermediate coupling 901 between a firstportion of the arm 912 and a second portion of the arm 913. The firstportion is affixed with a pivot 915 to a second arm 914 which couplesthe blade to the machine via couplings 920 and 921, and the firstportion 912 includes a lever arm 917 between the intermediate coupling911 and the pivot 915 wherein the length and angle of the lever arm isdetermined so as to constrain the tool attachment base 66 to move up anddown without significant rotation out of plumb.

In either case, the design may be described more generally as follows:at least two arms, each having a first end and a second end, withrotatable couplings at the first ends for attaching to the machine;rotatable couplings on the second ends coupled to a tool attachmentbase; and the at least four couplings each having a location when theattachment base is mounted on a machine via the couplings whereingeometric relationships between the locations of the couplingsconstrains the tool attachment base to move up and down withoutsignificant rotation out of plumb.

Silt Fence Installer

Often when a silt fence must be installed it is important not to disturbground on one side. The bucket 43 of an excavator is useful forpreparing the area while the machine moves forward installing the fence602 as shown in FIG. 20. The silt fence installer attachment includes afence roll support bar 608 that supports a roll of fencing material 602.The fencing material is fed off the roll, down around a directionchanging diagonal edge (not visible). Surrounding the fencing as it goesaround the direction changing edge are two sides 604 of a directionchanging chamber. The sides join at a plowing edge 618 that cuts intothe ground as the machine moves forward. A skid or wheels 606 may beadjusted up or down to change the depth of the cut made by the plowingedge 618.

Silt Fence with Attached Posts Installer

FIG. 21A shows another form of silt fence installer. In this case, thesilt fence is supplied on a roll 801 with stiff posts 802 attached tothe fence material every 2-4 feet. The posts extend below the fencematerial at the bottom by 3-12 inches. A plowing edge 803 digs a trenchto a preferred depth for the silt fence material.

As the fencing with posts unrolls, it is inserted into the trench withthe post bottoms at the bottom of the trench and the fence materialabove the bottom by 3-12 inches. Then a post pusher 804 pushes on thetops of the posts to push them into the soil at the bottom of the trenchto a preferred depth, typically until the fence material touches thebottom of the trench. Hydraulic cylinders adjust a height of a leadingedge of the post pusher and a height of a trailing edge of the postpusher to push the posts to the desired depth.

In a preferred embodiment, a steel U channel with extending fins extendsfrom a trailing edge of the plow 802 to keep the trench open until thefence is seated. A bottom of the U channel supports and guides the postbottoms as they descend to the bottom of the trench. Then the fins holdback soil until the posts are pushed to a desired depth.

Finally, rotatable discs 807 push the soil to close the trench againstthe fence material.

The same fence installer side-tool attachment can be used to installfences that do not include buried material by setting tool height sothat no trench is dug and using fencing where the posts extend below thematerial by 8-24 inches,

Preferred structure for the fencing material 801 is woven with loosewarp and weft parallel and perpendicular to the fence bottom and top sothat it will easily skew to parallelogram orientation to allow materialcoming off the roll to easily descend to installed height and then thematerial reorients to roughly square as it is seated.

Fence and Non-Attached Posts Installer

FIG. 22 shows another form of fence installer. In this case, the fenceis supplied on a roll 831 without posts. The posts are robust andrequire an auger 832 mounted on a vertical sliding base 834 mounted on avertical slide 833 to drill holes, or require a hydraulic post poundingface (not shown) mounted on the sliding base 834 to pound them in. Theattachment may include a fence stretcher 835.

Horizontally Extendable Low Profile Side Blade

FIG. 23 shows a horizontally extendable low profile side bladeattachment 861 that can clear debris under guard rails. As shown in FIG.24, the low profile blade slides horizontally in or out using pipeguides 862. A similar horizontally extendable blade 864 is also shown inFIG. 25. The pipes guides 865 are shown in a side view in FIG. 26B, andin a top view in FIG. 26A.

Side Roller

It is sometimes advantageous to be able to roll a surface to one side ofa road grade, such as in a sidewalk grade. A side roller attachment, asshown in FIG. 31, mounted on the modified excavator does the job. Theroller may include a vibrator 730.

Red Zone Auto Controls

A system with a programmable controller in the cab with a custom graphicdisplay can be used to create a “Red Zone” that the excavator componentscannot enter, thereby protecting the tool and people near it or usingit. Inclinometers, potentiometers, rotation sensors, and cylinder strokesensors are some of the means to indicate to the controller the positionof the cab, arm 11, boom, and bucket, to enable the machine to stay outof the “Red Zone”. When the machine enters the “Red Zone” the pilotvalve cuts the oil supply between the excavator control handles and theexcavator control valve.

In particular, the controller can be programmed to give specificdirections for each attachment using a look-up table for each attachmentto specify:

-   -   location of “Red Zone”,    -   restriction on flow rate and psi of hydraulic oil to each        hydraulic actuator, down to zero when appropriate,    -   allowed characteristics of each function of each hydraulic        actuator of the excavator or the tool,    -   limitations on or specification of track speed and direction        (the Leica Sonar system can read a string line and direct the        controller to drive the machine's direction and speed        automatically) as with the side grader and the curb and gutter        extruder; and    -   alignment of control handle buttons to correspond with        attachment functions.

IFM Electronics makes a suitable inclinometer, model EC 2045, andcylinder stroke sensors. They also offer a suitable programmablecontroller, model CR 1050.

1. A silt fence installing machine wherein an operator can swivel forgood view and control an articulating tool to operate in coordinationwith a silt fence installing tool, comprising: (a) a set of wheels ortracks on which the machine rides supporting a support structure; (b)coupled to and supported by the support structure, an operator's seatand operator's controls; (c) coupled to and supported by the supportstructure, a vertical swivel such that components coupled to an upperside of the swivel can swivel about a vertical axis relative to thesupport structure; (d) an articulating arm coupled to the upper side ofthe vertical swivel, controllable by the controls, with an articulatabletool mounted on a distant end of the arm; (e) coupled to and supportedby the support structure and fixed to a lower side of the swivel, amounting base for mounting an additional tool; (f) a silt fenceinstaller tool mounted on the mounting base such that an operator can,using controls at the operator's seat, control the articulatable tool toperform an operation in coordination with the silt fence installer tool.2. The system of claim 1 wherein the swivel can fully swivel any numberof rotations without limitation.
 3. The system of claim 2 whereinelements (a) through (e) are provided by an excavator with theoperator's seat and operator's controls coupled to the upper side of theswivel.
 4. The system of claim 1 wherein the articulating tool isselected from the group comprising an earth moving bucket, a rake, and aclaw.